Sunday, August 31, 2008
Smoke Signals
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Lunch
This is what he made for the two of us. Kids were on their own!
Thanks to Nas for adding the fig leaf to Omid's apron (I didn't want my blog to get flagged!).
Buy This!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sticker Shock!
I had to do what I didn't want to do. I was forced to buy "store brand" products (in order to stay on my budget). HyTop brand. It doesn't even sound fancy. HyTop cream cheese vs. Philadelphia Cream Cheese: a whole dollar difference! I love CC (just as much as you, Sarah), but I cannot pay $1.98 for a brick. So...I purchased the .98 brick. HyTop flour vs. Gold Medal. Yikes! $1.88 for a 5 lb. bag vs. $3.28. I sure hope prices go back to normal after the election. I am SICK of this inflation. I want my brand name products back!!!!! Oh! Something else I noticed. All of the good-for-you healthy foods were so darn expensive, but the junk food/crap was very affordable. That was irritating.
On a good note: Costco gas was $ 3.64 a gallon today! Woo hoo!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
7 fun facts
#1. I love cheese just as much as my father-in-law does (though I will acknowledge that he is the King of Cheese Enthusiasts). Who knew there was a gorgonzola 'dulce' - thanks for that one, Arezoujoon!
#2. I used to collect egg cups (yes, egg cups - those little cups for holding soft boiled eggs). Please note the past tense of the verb "use" - I don't want any for Xmas, thanks anyway. When we moved a few years back, I realized the collection was taking over my china hutch and I had to de-clutter my life. I started with the collection of egg cups. Right now I currently collect dust (& I am not proud of it).
#3. I am absolutely OCD about raw chicken. Ask anyone! I am the only one allowed in my family to clean cutting boards/counter tops after raw chicken has touched the surfaces. It all stems from getting sick one time after a surface wasn't properly sanitized. Now that is my job and my job alone. I will even come to your house and bring my own Clorox Clean Up to sanitize your cutting boards/counter tops if you'd like. Omid's mom says I have a 'chicken allergy' and she is absolutely correct!
#4. I am currently obsessed with reading Ethiopian adoption blogs of friends (& yes, even complete strangers). I am currently a big fan of Team Alexander. They are a God-loving, good looking family (& they even own 2 Vizslas - what's not to like?!).
#5. When I was in h.s., I was friends with ALL the exchange students (every year). My goal was to go home with each and every one of them for a year. I sort of did that. I went home with one (Hi Salla!!) to Finland for 6 weeks. I had the best time and even got to speak at a Rotary luncheon in Harjavalta, Finland to a bunch of Rotarians. Loved it!
#6. I am regretting my decision to homeschool my kids at their early age. I even thought about it for this year, but knew my kids would HATE me for it now. It's not the school system in Camas I don't like (because I absolutely LOVE the teachers (except for a BAD one at the HS); but the kids! There are so many BAD apples out there. I have fantasies of calling their parents and telling them how bad their kids are and to KEEP them AWAY from my precious babies who are perfect in every sense.
#7. I call businesses with reader boards and let them know if there is a misspelling. I have been known to mark up teacher/homeowner association/PTA newsletters with red ink and send them back. Spelling ranks high in my book!
Brenda & Arezou - I am tagging you two!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Remy wanting some of my lunch
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Watch this amazing slideshow of the Alexander Family as they meet their new baby boy. Sweet!!! ** Have a tissue or two handy.
Here is their blog link as well: http://www.teamalexander.blogspot.com/
Kind, hard-working mom seeks employment
Today I start looking for either a brand new job or a second one to supplement our income. The district cut my hours to the point that no $ would be able to go into the college savings or regular savings (& that was our main goal). With the higher prices of everything these days, there was absolutely no room for saving my paycheck. So...would anybody like to hire me? Please?!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Arezou & Evan came over for dinner last night. Omid bbq'd tri tip and it was sooo good. There are only 4 pieces left, two of which I am saving for my lunch today. Nas baked & frosted a "funfetti" cake for dessert. Check out her blog for pics. It was really good and there are only 2 pieces of cake left. Obviously one piece for each of my kids.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Brunch
We made Matty construct an "office" out of menus so we couldn't see his plate. Everytime I looked at what he had on it, I wanted to be sick. Here's a photo of his 2nd trip through the buffet line.
A Belgian waffle with powdered sugar, chocolate chips, M&Ms, & whipped cream AND biscuits & gravy. When Matty brought the plate to the table, I asked him what the "white stuff" was and Nas replied with a laugh, "Gravy!" Ha ha! We all laughed over that one.
At the end of the meal, Arezou told Matty she would give him $20 if he would get up and dance to whatever the pianist was playing. He said, "okay!" He actually did it! He did a mixture of interpretive dance & ballet. It was hilarious! Though the pianist didn't think so (he thought Matty was stealing his thunder). He immediately started playing something that sounded ominous and dark. Matty got the message and sat down. A fun ending to our brunch. :)
Sean & Carla
Finished product (they were delicious!)
Amy eating the yummy rice that I made & it was delicious too
Carla helping with salad rolls
Nas & Amy
Matty & Matt
Sometime during the evening the menfolk decided they needed to go fishing in the morning. Lin made some sandwiches for the trip. I got up early with Omid to make coffee and help him load the boat, but didn't have the energy to take my camera out.Saturday, August 23, 2008
Yes - you are seeing correctly. Babies & puppies in the BACK of the pickup. I thought this was illegal. I stated this fact over and over again. Over and over again I was told that if there is no space up front (in the pick up) then humans can sit in the back of a pick up (apparently this is all legal). Ward & Lin both assured me and both times I assured them I was NOT happy with the situation.
After our 3.5 mile walk/run/bicycle trip, we came back and I made the dogs stay outside (my floors were freshly mopped, thank you very much).
Planning dinner for this evening. We spent all almost 5 hours with our friends this a.m. and are having a two hour break. We are going to the Kellogg's for dinner tonight where I am sure we will stay for 5 or 6 more hours. We must love each other!! + the fact we havent' seen them in almost a month!!
A death in the family
Friday, August 22, 2008
Afternoon on the river
Omid, Matty & Richard swimming in the Columbia.
What is it about dogs & sand? Remy spent the entire time trying to dig a tunnel to China. It was so sweet. Here's a video of the first tunnel he tried to dig. There were so many holes it was hard not to step in them (& twist our ankles).
Thursday, August 21, 2008
I am currently reading The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. It has been years since I've read this book and it's so great to be re-reading it. It's not the best book for late night reading, as the adrenaline starts running through my veins (& then I get so excited I can't sleep). Anyhoo - a good read for anyone looking for one.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Run!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Your dad is Omid if...
You ask your dad help on your math homework and 2 hours later he’s still lecturing you
You have a 40 lb. bag of rice in your pantry
You get 99% on a math test, and your dad says, "What happened to the other 1%?"
When you go to buffets, your dad make you eat until you think you're going to hurl, and even after you do, he says, "good, eat more."
You bring home straight A's, and your dad says, "So? You're supposed to get that!"
Your dad read about some super nerd who has no life and got in the paper for scoring highest in the SAT's and asks why you can't be more like him.
Your dad expects you to become a doctor.
Your dad compares you to other kids who are wayyy smarter than you... and tells you to be more like them.
You buy corn oil by the gallon.
You are standing next to the two largest suitcases at the Airport
There is a sale on any item, you buy 100 of them.
Your relatives alone could populate a small city.
No matter what you wear, your dad thinks it's too revealing.
Goodbye's take at least an hour!
Every meal contains rice and a side item
You have at least one Persian rug in every room
You can’t even think about having a boyfriend until you are like 30
You drink tea before, during, and after every meal
Iranian satellite is on 24-7 at your house
The real question is what type of doctor you want to be
You never run out of sunflower sees, pumpkin seeds, or pistachios in your house
Your dad calls you to see where you are at 9pm and at least three times every hour after that.
You tell your dad you’re going out, and he whips out a list of questions like: “Where are you going?” “Who’s going to be there?” “How many guys, how many girls?” “Do I know their parents?”
You know you're Persian when...
-Your mom regifts every single one of her gifts.
-After dinner the women fight each other to wash the dishes.
-Goodbye's take at least an hour!
- You drive a Mercedes or BMW or plan to get one in the near future
-Your parents will offer something to your American friends (tarof) and when your friends accept, your parents think they are rude
-Every meal contains rice and a side item
-All your parents ever do is brag about how amazing you are
-You can’t even think about having a boyfriend until you are like 30
-You have at least one Persian rug in every room
-You drink tea before, during, and after every meal
-Iranian satellite is on 24-7 at your house
-Your friends think its weird that you take your shoes off whenever you enter a house
-The real question is what type of doctor you want to be
-You never run out of sunflower sees, pumpkin seeds, or pistachios in your house
- Your mom calls you to see where you are at 9pm and at least three times every hour after that.
-You tell your parents you’re going out, they whip out a list of questions like: “Where are you going?” “Who’s going to be there?” “How many guys, how many girls?” “Do I know their parents?”
---Your parents and grandparents always have some sort of weird, ancient remedy they learned in Iran in the 1950s that they’re convinced will cure any illness.
-Your parents force you to continue going to school…not just for your education, but also so that other Persian families will respect you more
-A relative or family friend always mentions how big you’ve gotten and they remember you when you were this (they illustrate with their hands) tall, even when they saw you two weeks ago.
-The same relative or family friend always asks if you’re getting all A’s in school, and of course you say “yes, of course” even when you’re a straight C student.
-If someone calls from Iran or your parents call Iran, they talk so loud that the neighbors can hear them and they talk for at least a couple hours.
-Also, after your parents finish talking to relatives in Iran, they force you to come talk to them as well even though you have the biggest American accent on the planet and they probably can't understand a lick of what you're saying.
-You have at least one female in the family who dyes or highlights her hair blonde.
-When family friends or relatives call and ask you if you remember them, you lie because you cant tell the truth and then they ask "Who am I?", you just give the phone to your dad.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Contest
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Us on the shuttle bus
$8 million dollar cranes ($8 million each) to load/unload cargo
Free resusable shopping bags filled with all sorts of goodies
sample container tour
More free goodies at the Radio Disney booth (we didn't win HS Musical tickets, darn it).
All in all, here is what we came home with: 5 reusable shopping bags from the P.o.P, 4 water bottles, 12 pens, 4 highlighters,3 key chains, 3 whistles, 3 luggage tags, 2 cd holders, 6 magnets and 4 apples. Cool.
After our trip to the Port, we still had FREE imprinted on our brains (GLAD term!) so we headed over to Hawthorne Blvd. for Hawthorne Day. We saw many eclectic people and had fun browsing in the shops & people watching. It was a little warm for the kids so we stopped for beverages (pop, juice and beer). All in all - we spent about $19 on beverages & ice cream. It was a lot of fun.
Moonshadow CafeTip: I found out about both these adventures on the KATU website (plan your weekend). If I hadn't checked for free family adventures, who knows what we would have spent our day (spending $ we don't have, no doubt!).
Leave me your favorite free tip (what you do for fun that is free) and if you are the winner, I will give you a FREE CD holder from the US CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION, + a whole bunch of other goodies from the Port.